Wednesday's MLB betting cheat sheet: Astros embracing underdog role
Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for Wednesday's major league games:
Interleague 'Dogs Prevail
Interleague underdogs went a perfect 3-for-3 on Tuesday night. The Baltimore Orioles (+143) cruised past the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 while the Chicago Cubs (+150) stunned the New York Yankees 6-1 and the Minnesota Twins (+166) rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 5-3.
Johnny Be Bad
Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto saw his streak of nine consecutive quality starts to open the season come to a shocking end Tuesday as he was tagged for six runs over six innings of a 9-4 loss to Washington (-105). Cueto fell to 0-3 in his last three starts as an underdog.
Giant Killers
The Houston Astros are 4-2 in their last six games as an underdog entering Wednesday's showdown with the host Los Angeles Angels (-189, 8). Houston comes in with the worst record in the majors at 17-29, but has lost just 454 units on the season thanks to several big upset wins.
Pitching Notes
* Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu returns to the rotation Wednesday after missing the previous 3 1/2 weeks with a shoulder injury. Ryu has thrown 26 shutout innings on the road to start the season as he leads the Dodgers into New York for a date with the Mets (+118, 7).
* Cincinnati Reds righty Alfredo Simon remains one of the best bets in baseball so far, ranked 17th in pitcher money earned ($421) while posting a 1-7 O/U mark through eight starts - the most Unders in baseball. Simon and the Reds (+129, 7) face the Nationals in Washington.
Batting Notes
* Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion went deep twice in Tuesday's win over Boston and has belted nine homers over his past 14 games. The Blue Jays, who are 9-5 against the moneyline and 7-6-1 O/U during that stretch, resume their series with the host Red Sox (-128, 9).
* The Tampa Bay Rays continue struggling on offense, managing just two runs in their previous three games - all losses. The Rays enter Wednesday's game against visiting Oakland (-106, 7.5) ranked 23rd in the league in home runs (35); no Tampa Bay player has hit more than four.
Totals Streak
New York Yankees (0-6 O/U): The Bronx Bombers limited the Mets and Pirates to four combined runs over a four-game stretch, then posted back-to-back subpar performances at the plate en route to losses against the Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
Prop of the Day
The Oakland Athletics are a +400 bet to beat the Rays by four or more runs. The Athletics are the hottest team in the majors, reeling off 10 wins in their last 11 games; those victories have come by an average of 5.8 runs, including three double-digit triumphs in that span.
Injury Notes
* Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee (elbow strain) faces a DL stint, though GM Ruben Amaro classifies the injury as "pretty mild." Philadelphia is 5-5 against the moneyline and 6-3-1 O/U in Lee's 10 starts this season.
* Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is questionable Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game against Houston with tightness in his hamstring. Trout finished with three RBIs in the win; Los Angeles is
Weather Watch
* Wind at PNC Park for the game between Pittsburgh and visiting Baltimore will blow out to left field at 6 mph. The Pirates went 18-7 and averaged 4.88 runs in 25 games under similar conditions last season.
Umpire Note of the Day
Under is 9-1 in umpire Doug Eddings' last 10 games calling balls and strikes. Eddings will be behind home plate for the game between the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks.
** Odds, stats, weather forecast and probable pitchers as of 11:25 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for Wednesday's major league games:
Interleague 'Dogs Prevail
Interleague underdogs went a perfect 3-for-3 on Tuesday night. The Baltimore Orioles (+143) cruised past the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 while the Chicago Cubs (+150) stunned the New York Yankees 6-1 and the Minnesota Twins (+166) rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 5-3.
Johnny Be Bad
Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto saw his streak of nine consecutive quality starts to open the season come to a shocking end Tuesday as he was tagged for six runs over six innings of a 9-4 loss to Washington (-105). Cueto fell to 0-3 in his last three starts as an underdog.
Giant Killers
The Houston Astros are 4-2 in their last six games as an underdog entering Wednesday's showdown with the host Los Angeles Angels (-189, 8). Houston comes in with the worst record in the majors at 17-29, but has lost just 454 units on the season thanks to several big upset wins.
Pitching Notes
* Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu returns to the rotation Wednesday after missing the previous 3 1/2 weeks with a shoulder injury. Ryu has thrown 26 shutout innings on the road to start the season as he leads the Dodgers into New York for a date with the Mets (+118, 7).
* Cincinnati Reds righty Alfredo Simon remains one of the best bets in baseball so far, ranked 17th in pitcher money earned ($421) while posting a 1-7 O/U mark through eight starts - the most Unders in baseball. Simon and the Reds (+129, 7) face the Nationals in Washington.
Batting Notes
* Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion went deep twice in Tuesday's win over Boston and has belted nine homers over his past 14 games. The Blue Jays, who are 9-5 against the moneyline and 7-6-1 O/U during that stretch, resume their series with the host Red Sox (-128, 9).
* The Tampa Bay Rays continue struggling on offense, managing just two runs in their previous three games - all losses. The Rays enter Wednesday's game against visiting Oakland (-106, 7.5) ranked 23rd in the league in home runs (35); no Tampa Bay player has hit more than four.
Totals Streak
New York Yankees (0-6 O/U): The Bronx Bombers limited the Mets and Pirates to four combined runs over a four-game stretch, then posted back-to-back subpar performances at the plate en route to losses against the Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
Prop of the Day
The Oakland Athletics are a +400 bet to beat the Rays by four or more runs. The Athletics are the hottest team in the majors, reeling off 10 wins in their last 11 games; those victories have come by an average of 5.8 runs, including three double-digit triumphs in that span.
Injury Notes
* Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee (elbow strain) faces a DL stint, though GM Ruben Amaro classifies the injury as "pretty mild." Philadelphia is 5-5 against the moneyline and 6-3-1 O/U in Lee's 10 starts this season.
* Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is questionable Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game against Houston with tightness in his hamstring. Trout finished with three RBIs in the win; Los Angeles is
Weather Watch
* Wind at PNC Park for the game between Pittsburgh and visiting Baltimore will blow out to left field at 6 mph. The Pirates went 18-7 and averaged 4.88 runs in 25 games under similar conditions last season.
Umpire Note of the Day
Under is 9-1 in umpire Doug Eddings' last 10 games calling balls and strikes. Eddings will be behind home plate for the game between the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks.
** Odds, stats, weather forecast and probable pitchers as of 11:25 a.m. ET Wednesday.

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